Maa Kamala Maa
To describe
Dash Maha Vidya or The Knowledge about The Ten Supreme Forms
Of Energies with few words is impossible. This is only an
effort to give an introductory know how about Dash Maha Vidya.
Niraarakaar
(Formless) and Nirguna (Virtue less) BrahmaN displays Himself
in the form of Maha Devi Aadi Shakti who does the creation and
administration of all we see. Maa Aadi Shakti is manifested
in 10 major forms in the process of Creation, Administration
and Destruction of this world, this Universe. These Ten
Goddesses are known as Dash ( Ten ) Maha Vidya (Supreme
Knowledge Of Shakti – The Governing Energy).
Seated on a lotus blossom, Kamala
is the beautiful and fully-realized Mahavidya (Great Wisdom Goddess)
form of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, well-being, fertility and
prosperity. They are in fact the same goddess, though Kamala is more
esoteric in nature.
There
is a slight difference in iconography between Kamala and Lakshmi. While
both are pictured seated on a lotus, with two hands each holding a
lotus, and the other two hands in the mudra bestowing blessings, the
image of Kamala also includes two elephants with their trunks raised,
typically showering her with water.
The lotus symbolizes a number
of things. Kamala literally means “lotus” in Sanskrit, and spiritually
it denotes purity, auspiciousness and piety, which is strongly
associated with Lakshmi. However, it is also a symbol of the entire
manifested universe, found in every yantra (sacred diagram) and also
associated with many deities, though none as closely as Kamala/Lakshmi.
The lotus itself famously grows from murky, muddy waters, bursting forth
into large leaves and gorgeous, fragrant blossoms, symbolizing the
emergency of the pure, limitless Atman (soul) from the limited material
body, and the ability of the devoted spiritual practitioner to be
untouched by the murkiness of drama, attachment and ego. The lotus is
also very nourishing, almost all of it being edible and very healthy,
and it thus represents the vital nature of the spiritual path in
nurturing our whole self.
The elephants that attend Kamala and
shower her with water symbolize the fertile rains of monsoon that bring
forth the lush plants and flowers of the growing season, and thus the
spiritual wealth that grows through the passion of devotion and
practice, which must be done regularly to bear fruit, just as rain is
needed for a healthy crop. They also give her an air of regal authority,
as elephants are symbols of royalty and status, and as the devoted wife
of Vishnu, preserver of the universe, she is the queen and preserver of
everything on earth. The elephants with their gray-blue color and
service to Lakshmi may also be seen as a subtle reference to Vishnu, who
has frequently been associated with elephants. Lakshmi is so often
portrayed selflessly serving Vishnu, but in this image we see that Devi
takes the primary position as the elephants bathe her, perhaps at the
request of Vishnu himself in service to her!
As the goddess of
material and spiritual wealth and beauty, Kamala is most typically
worshipped for her most revered power, the power to eliminate poverty.
In tough economic times, Kamala or Lakshmi is worshipped in order to
bring material wealth, and you’ll often find altars to Lakshmi in places
of business as well as individual homes. Every married woman is
considered an incarnation of Lakshmi, and global sociological studies
have shown that women have a unique ability to create wealth out of
meager beginnings, leading to the success of micro-loan programs to
women in developing nations, which has helped improve the status and
treatment of women in those places.
Kamala is the pure creative force, the power to create beauty and wealth around us, and to see the beauty in everything.
As
the creative force, Kamala is also the Goddess who blesses families
with children. Those having difficulty conceiving or adopting children
may especially wish to offer worship to this powerful Tantric Goddess.
If you have become happily pregnant, or have had a new addition to your
family through adoption or foster care, especially if it is after much
difficulty, offering thanks to Kamala and praying for the continued
wellbeing of the pregnancy and an easy labor is a good way remember the
Goddess of fertility, childbirth and family well-being.
Kamala
teaches us that when we commit ourselves to the spiritual path, as we
move farther along we begin to see beauty all around us, because she is
present everywhere in the manifest world. The fruit of worshipping
Kamala or Lakshmi for the highest spiritual good is not only blessings
of material security, but also those of spiritual progress. We begin to
release the drama of our daily lives, release the bitterness and anger
we have toward others who may have bruised our ego, and see the goddess
in everything and everyone, in a profound and real way. This is truly
Kamala – the radiant beauty of the cosmos that is manifest in the
material world.
She is the spirit of nature itself, and is
manifest in the natural world. We can worship Kamala simply by spending
time in nature and appreciating its profound beauty, and also by being
stewards of the earth. This is not only done through the familiar mantra
of reduce-reuse-recycle, but also by actively protecting the earth’s
natural resources, and working to end the pollution and overconsumption
that contribute to the extinction of plants and animals, irrevocable
loss of habitat and the death of fragile ecosystems. There is much work
to be done in this area, and a sincere devotee of Kamala and Lakshmi
will want to protect her in the form of the natural world as much as
possible by engaging in this work in their own way, according to their
own ability.
By recognizing her beauty in the natural world all
around us, we also move further down the path of the sadhaka, the
spiritual practitioner who communes with God in every moment, and offers
every action to the Divine Mother as worship, remaining detached from
the fruits of action and enjoying the acts of service, generosity and
prayer for their own sake. In this spirit we truly begin to touch the
inner nature of Kamala, the light of divine consciousness and connection
with the Self.
As a Mahavidya, and thus one of the ten emanations
of Kali, Kamala reminds us that true wealth has nothing to do with how
much money or material possessions we may have. Kamala is not about
consumption for the sake of “I want.” True wealth is measured by
generosity, spiritual depth, and freedom from ego-driven desires. She is
the spirit of giving, not of taking. She is the spirit of receiving
graciously and gratefully, not of greed.
When we ask Kamala to
help us in service of our highest spiritual good – whether that be in
the form of spiritual or material wealth, without attachment to her more
glitzy blessings – she is happy and gives us all we desire, though in
the form that is best for us, not necessarily in the form we may be
expecting. When we look to her as an ATM or a rich auntie, just there to
give us cash and fancy presents, then she may also give us what we
want, but along with all its negative consequences. She has a tendency
to remind us – sometimes painfully – that she is also Kali, who teaches
detachment and surrender, whose gifts are meant to be used in service to
the highest good, not to sink us further into our limited ego. This is
why wealth can be so fleeting, why someone wealthy and successful may
have lots of riches but an unhappy family life, or why we may find
ourselves suddenly without a job so that we may learn to surrender and
trust the Divine Mother as we find a path forward that serves the
highest good, rather than being seduced by our own hubris or worldly
desires for the sake of material gain.
Kamala can thus also be a
teacher around financial responsibility. Learning to save instead of
spend, paying off all debts, investing wisely and without reckless
greed, not taking what is not freely given, regular charitable giving,
not spending more than you can afford – these are all ways of being a
proper custodian of her blessings.
At the Sri Sri Kamakhya Temple
in Assam, India, the inner sanctum (garbha griha, literally “womb room”)
of the temple houses not only the peetham of Sri Sri Kamakhya Devi, but
also of Matangi (Sarasvati) and Kamala (Laksmi), and so when one
receives darshan of Kamakhya, they also receive darshan of Matangi and
Kamala. At the Sri Kamakhya Mahavidya Mandir in Alameda, California, the
primary altar in our temple is also home to these three powerful Devis.
You
can worship Kamala to help manifest creative vision, eliminate poverty,
stabilize your home, open your heart and deepen your spiritual
practice. Ultimately, she is the goddess of spiritual wealth above all
else, and so all of us should worship her daily, to receive her
brightest, most shining blessing of all — liberation.
How to Worship Kamala (Lakshmi)
Lakshmi
Puja is Kamala’s special holy day, celebrated on the full moon of
Ashvin, typically in early October after the end of Durga Puja and
before Diwali. However, you do not need to wait for Lakshmi Puja to
worship her!
Puja simply means “worship,” and it need not be
formal. In our temple, worship is often performed as simple home
worship, from the heart, as this pleases the Goddess. If you have no
knowledge of Sanskrit, simply speak to Her from your heart. Mother
accepts all sincere worship!
This simple ritual is designed for
those who have no previous knowledge of Devi worship. It requires no
special knowledge or initiation, only a sincere desire to offer yourself
in service to the Mother.
First, if you don’t have an altar
dedicated to Kamala or Lakshmi, create one. As Kamala and Lakshmi are
the same goddess, there is no need to create a new Kamala altar if you
already have a Laksmi altar. You may create a simple altar by placing a
beautiful cloth (white, pink, yellow or red are all good colors) on a
small table or flat surface that is not directly on the ground. Then,
place an image of Laksmi or Kamala on top of this – it can be a standing
framed photo, a murti (statue), etc. Place a vase or plate of flowers
on the altar, as well as a candle or oil lamp and some sweet-smelling
incense. Lakshmi especially loves lotuses, roses and jasmine. Whatever
flowers you have available is acceptable, however, as Lakshmi is the
spirit of nature and therefore loves all flowers.
Ultimately, she is the goddess of spiritual wealth above all else, and so all of us should worship her daily, to receive her brightest, most shining blessing of all — liberation.
During
Lakshmi Puja, it is also beneficial to place a sheaf of rice stalks. In
the West, because our diet is largely wheat-based instead of
rice-based, you may alternatively place sheafs of wheat, which are
easier to find, or you may use any other form of grain. This is a symbol
of abundance and the foundations of sustenance, both in the physical
and the spiritual realms.
A small bell with a light sound will be helpful, as many believe that Lakshmi doesn’t like loud noises but prefers soft sounds. If you do not have a bell, don’t worry! If this is your first time offering worship to Lakshmi, it is not necessary as long as your worship is sincere.
On special days you may also offer a basket or plate which contains a sari or small piece of fine cloth, a small mirror and comb (symbols of beauty in the manifest world), a small white conch or other white shell (symbol of clarity), and any kind of coin (symbol of material wealth).
A small bell with a light sound will be helpful, as many believe that Lakshmi doesn’t like loud noises but prefers soft sounds. If you do not have a bell, don’t worry! If this is your first time offering worship to Lakshmi, it is not necessary as long as your worship is sincere.
On special days you may also offer a basket or plate which contains a sari or small piece of fine cloth, a small mirror and comb (symbols of beauty in the manifest world), a small white conch or other white shell (symbol of clarity), and any kind of coin (symbol of material wealth).
Next,
get a small cup – a stone or stoneware cup, or a clean glass, stainless
steel cup, brass or copper cup, or even a silver or gold cup. Put
coconut water or purified water into this cup, and place it on the altar
along with the basket or plate.
Standing or kneeling in front of
the altar, take a few deep breaths and feel your devotion for this
beautiful goddess. Recite her pranama mantra.
This
mantra praises Kamala as the great goddess Lakshmi, who is beloved and
grants all desires, who nourishes us in our spiritual life, and who
loves white flowers, and whose form is white and pleasing to look at.
White in this context is the color of sattva – ultimate reality, the
oneness that is devoid of color – and she is seen as the pure, gentle,
independent, powerful, virgin Goddess.
With your left hand, ring
the bell softly. With your right hand, take the candle or oil lamp and
wave it clockwise before the image of Lakshmi three times, in your mind
offering it to her with sincerity. Next, take the basket and wave it
clockwise before the image three times, again offering it with
sincerity.
Say the above mantra again, and bow deeply before the
image. You may wish to kneel and touch your forehead to the ground, a
traditional gesture of great respect. At this point, you may ask Lakshmi
for Her blessings, and offer thanks for all the blessings She has given
you.
End the puja by bowing again, and imagining the power of
peace and well-being spreading out across the world, asking Lakshmi to
take care of all beings.
After the puja, use some of the uncooked
rice in a meal, as prasad, the blessing of Lakshmi. Save some of this
uncooked rice in a special place to be used for next year’s Lakshmi
Puja. Use some of the water to prepare the food, and pour the rest at
the base of a tree, offering it back to the Mother Earth. The other
items may be saved in a special place to radiate blessings throughout
the year.
This is not a formal puja, but is simple worship that
anyone can do. If you do not know how to offer puja, this will be a
simple and beautiful way to begin, until you can learn more. Remember –
our Divine Mother accepts all worship offered sincerely, for we are all
Her beloved children.
by- jaimaa.org
Maa Kamala Maa
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Oleh
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